The Venice Music Project is in its fourth concert season in Italy’s iconic watery city. Using period instruments and faithful replicas to recreate the authentic sound of the Baroque era, the ensemble features the resident Venetia Antiqua orchestra, guest artists, and co-founder and soprano Liesl Odenweller. This season’s programming honors Venice’s cultural history, including events tied to the 500th anniversary of the city’s Jewish Ghetto.
On October 29–30, the multidisciplinary company Lucidarium presents selections from Sounds from Shylock’s Venice, a program of Jewish Baroque-era music performed in Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish and Spanish. The concerts highlight repertoire that reflects the diverse linguistic and cultural life of early modern Venetian Jewish communities.
Another featured program, A Venetian Affair, blends music and narrative to evoke clandestine love letters from the 1700s. Sung by Liesl Odenweller and narrated by author Andrea di Robilant, the performance draws on an intimate collection of letters discovered in Robilant’s ancestral palazzo on the Grand Canal. The readings and songs recreate the emotional world of the correspondents and bring a personal historical perspective to the music.
Performances are presented at the historic St. George’s Anglican Church, situated between the Accademia Bridge and the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. The Venice Music Project contributes to ongoing efforts to restore the church and its artwork while offering audiences authentic Baroque music in a restored architectural setting.
A full schedule of upcoming concerts and programs is available on the Venice Music Project website, where visitors can find details about dates, artists and tickets. The season continues to emphasize historically informed performance practice, rich storytelling, and collaborations that illuminate Venice’s layered musical heritage.